Machine for mining and loading coal



Jan. 22, 1952 1.. WYLAM MACHINE FOR MINING AND LOADING COAL 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 27, 1950 ATTORNEYS Jan. 22, 1952 L. Li WYLAM 2,583,458 MACHINE FOR MINING AND LOADING COAL Filed April 27, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 I% IN VENTOR. 4mamm'eA ATTUENEYS 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 35 I N VEN TOR.

. A y/am ATTCI RN EYE L, L. WYLAM MACHINE FOR MINING AND LOADING COAL Amara/756,4

Jan. 22, 195? Filed April 2'7, 1950 Jan. 22, 1952 L. L. WYLAM MACHINE FOR MINING AND LOADING COAL 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed- April 27, 1950 W w 4/)? 7/? 2 M 1 a m Amy/"627064 A'TTU R N EYS Patented Jan. 22, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MACHINE FOR MINING AND LOADING GOAL Lawrence L. Wylam, Welch, W. .Va.

Application April 27, 1950, Serial No. 158,517

3 Claims. 1

This invention relates to a mining machine, and more particularly to a machine for use in mining andloading coal.

The object of the invention is to provide a machine which includes a plurality of high speed cutters, whereby coal or other material can be readily mined and loaded, the machine affording a maximum of safety to the miners.

1 Another object of the invention is to provide a machine which will cut coal in the mine in such a manner that no ribs ,or other projections will be left remaining to interfere with the operation of the machine, the high speed cutters of the machine of the present invention adapted to be adjusted both as to speed and direction, and wherein the machine is mobilegand adapted to be propelled through the mine by a power means which is under control of the operator.

Still another object of the invention is to provide :a mining and loading machine which is mo- :bile and includes rotary cutters that are adapted to be driven at. a very high rate of speed, whereby coal and the like can be cut or mined and dischargedonto a conveyor which is attached to the machine so that the coal can be fed to a suitable receiving mechanism.

Afurther object of, the invention is to provide :a planing and loading machine=whicl1 is adapted tolmove in a forward or reverse direction, so that pillars of coal can be ,cut as desired .and with a minimum of labor and time required, the machine of the present invention eliminating the necessity of drilling, blasting Or other dangerous .jobs that are normally performedgin a coal mine.

.Qther objects and advantages will'be apparent 'during the course of the following description.

, Inthe accompanying drawings forming a part of this application, and in which like numerals :are used to designate like parts throughout the :same:

Figure 'li-is a transverse, vertical, sectional view taken through the mining machine of the pres ent invention;

Figures? is a top plan view of the machine of the present invention, with the cover or topnwall removed from the housing;

-Figure' 31is-a sectional view taken on the'line "3-3 :of Figure 1.;

Figure 4 isa sectional viewtaken on the line ranged in engagement with a shaft 40.

2 ting the control circuit for the machine of the present invention.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the numeral 2.0 designates a hollow housing which is adapted to be supported on a suitable frame 2|, the housing 20 including a vertically disposed front wall 22, a vertically disposed rear wall 23 which is arranged in spaced, parallel relation to the rear of the front wall 22, and a pair of spaced, parallel, vertically disposed side walls 24 and 25. The housing 20 further includes a horizontally disposed bottom wall 2.6 and a horizontally dis posed top wall or cover 21 which may be detachably connected to the housing.

Extending rotatably through the side wall 24 is a pair of horizontally disposed axles 28 and 29, while extending rotatably through the other side wall 25 of the housing is a second pair of axles 30 and 3!, Figure 2. A ground-engaging wheel 32 is mounted on the outer end of the axle 28, while a similar wheel 33 is mounted on the outer end of the axle 29, there being wheels 34 and 35 mounted on the other pair of axles 30 and 3|.

Arranged in the housing 20 and supported on the bottom wall 26 is an electric motor 36 which is adapted to rotate a short drive shaft 31. The drive shaft 37 is connected to a reducing gear assembly 38, and the reducing gear assembly 38 serves-to drive an endless chain 39 which is ar- The endless chain 39 serves to rotate or drive the axle 29. The motor 36 is of the reversible type, so that the wheel 33 can be driven in either a forward or rearward direction. A second endless chain 4| is also arranged in engagement with the shaft 40, and the endless chain 4| serves to rotate or drive theaxle-28 so as to rotate the wheel 32 :in ,a forward or reverse direction. A similar arrangement is provided for driving the other pair of wheels 34 and 35 in a forward or reverse direction. Thus, a reversible electric motor 42, which is arranged in the housing 20, serves to actuate a suitable reducing gear mechanism, and this last-named reducing gear mechanism serves to drive the endless chain 44, the

chain 44 being arranged, in engagement with the axle 3|. The endless chain 44 is also operatively connected to an endless chain 45, and the chain 45 is connected to the axle 30, whereby the motor .42-serves to rotate the wheels 34 and 35 in a forward or reverse direction.

Arranged rearwardly of the housing 20 and connected to the back wall 23 in anysuitable manner is an inclined conveyor 46. The conveyor 46 includes an endlesswide belt 41 which has a plurality of spaced, parallel angle irons 48 secured thereto, so that coal that has been mined or out can be conveyed upwardly to a desired receiving receptacle or member. The endless belt 41 is trained over a first shaft 49, and a second shaft The coal or other material that has been mined may be conveyed or discharged by the conveyor 46 onto a wide belt 5|, and the belt 5| may be used to transport or convey the coal to any desired location in the mine.

For driving or operating the conveyor 45, an electric motor 52 is supported in the housing 29, the motor '52 serving to drive a reducin gear mechanism 54 which in turn actuates an endless chain 53. The endless chain 53 isarranged in engagement with a sprocket 55 which is mounted on an end of the shaft 50, so that actuation of the motor 52 causes continuous movement of the endless belt 41 of the conveyor 4'5.

The cutting mechanism for planing or cutting the coal, salt or other material in the mine is designated generally by the numeral 59, and for directing the coal or other material that has been cut by the cutting mechanism 59 onto the lower end of the conveyor 46, a scoop 56 is provided. The scoop '56 includes a front section 5'! and a wide, rear section 58, Figure 2.

The cutting mechanism 59 includes a support member 50, Figure 5, which projects through an opening or cutout 6| in the side wall 24 of the housing. The support member 69 is provided with rectangular recesses or grooves 62 for slidably receiving therein the side wall 24. The support member is also provided with a circular opening 63. Rotatably arranged in the opening 63 is a disc portion 54 of a body member 65. A plate 66 is secured to the disc portion 64 by suitable securing elements, such as screws 51, and a stub shaft 68 projects from the plate 56 for a purpose to be later described. Projecting from theinner surface of the support member 69 and secured thereto is a pair of stub shafts 69 and 19, the purpose of which is later described in this application.

Rotatably supported by the body member is a drive-shaft 1|, the drive shaft 'H projecting through an arcuate slot 12, Figure 3, which is arranged in a portion of the body member 65, i so that there will be no jamming when the cutting mechanism 59 is swung about a horizontal axis. V

A universal joint 73 pivotally connects the inner end of the drive shaft H to a shaft section 14, while a similar universal joint 15 serves to pivotally connect the other end of the shaft section M to a second shaft section 75. Arranged in the housing 20 is an electric motor l! which serves to operate and endless chain 78, and the chain 18 is arranged in engagement with the shaft section 16. Thus, actuation of the motor Tl causes rotation of the drive shaft H, whereby the various cutters of the mechanism 59 will be actuated as later described.

Mounted on the drive shaft H is a gear 19 Arranged in spaced, parallel relation with respect to the drive shaft Hand rotatably supported by the body member 55 is a driven shaft 83, there being a gear 84 mounted on the driven shaft83, and

the gear 84 meshes with the gear on the straight shaft 8i. Thus, rotation of the drive shaft 1! causes rotation of the straight shaft 8| and also of the driven shaft 83. Mounted on the straight shaft 8| is a pair of cutting members B5 and 85, each of the cutting members 85 and 35' including a plurality of teeth 86 which serve to mine or cut the coal when the machine is being used, The cutting members 85 and 85' are-adapted to'be driven at a very high rate of speed.

Mounted on the front end of the drive shaft II is a circular cutter 81, while mounted on the front end of the driven shaft 83 is a similar circular cutter 88. The circular cutters 81 and 88 are arranged or positioned in the space between the pair of cutting members 85 and 85, and the purpose of the circular cutters 81 and 88 is to cut or plane any coal that would not be cut or mined by the cutting members 85 and 85, so as to insure that there will be no ribs or projections left during the mining operations.

A hydraulic means is provided for vertically adjusting the position of the cutting mechanism 59, and also for swinging or pivoting the cutting mechanism 59 about a horizontal axis. This means comprises an electric motor 89 that is arranged in the housing 29, the motor 89 adapted to drive a pump 90, which is arranged contiguous 'to the motor 89.

Arranged adjacent to the side wall 24 of the housing is a plurality of hydraulic cylinders. Thus, a hydraulic cylinder 9|, which includes a casing 92, has a rod 93 reciprocably mounted therein, and the upper end of the rod 93 is connected to the stud shaft 69. Arranged in spaced, parallel relation with respect to the cylinder 9| is a second hydraulic cylinder 94 which includes a hollow casing 95 having a reciprocating rod 95 arranged therein, the upper end of the rod 96 bein connected to the other stud shaft HI. Thus, by directing hydraulic fluid into the top or bottom of the casings Hand 95, the entire body member 65' can be raised or lowered, whereby the cutting mechanism 59 can be adjusted vertically so as to permit the coal to be cut or mined at any desired elevation. Arranged adjacent to the cylinder 9| is a hydraulic cylinder 9'! which includes a hollow'casing 98 having a reciprocating rod 99 arranged therein, the rod 99 having its upper end pivotally connected to the stud shaft 69. Upon proper actuation of the cylinder 91, the plate 56 will be caused to rotate, and this in turn will result in rotation or swinging movement of the body member 65 about a horizontal axis, so that the cutting mechanism 59 .can be moved to and from a horizontal or vertical position.

Suitable conduits are provided for conveying the hydraulic fluid to and from the pump and to and from the tops and bottoms of the previously-described hydraulic cylinders. A pair of valves lill and H02 are provided for controlling the flow of hydraulic fluid to and from the pair of cylinders 9! and 94, and by properly setting these valves, the hydraulic fluid can either be directed into the bottoms of the cylinders or into the tops thereof, so as to vertically adjust the cutting mechanism.v A second pairof valves I03 and IE4 are provided for controlling the'flow of fluid to the cylinder 97' from the pump .90 and back again. These valves are adapted to be actuated or set by electrically controlled means, as described later in this application.

"A manually operable means is provided for conausa es etrollingi the actuation of'the various motors and "hydraulic :system arranged in the F hollSil'lg l 20, and this manually operable means is arranged exteriorly ol: the housing and at a convenient I'distance therefrom. Thus, a' controliaox I I 05 is secured to the exterior of the side wall 25, and a plurality 'of hand-engaging levers are operatively .connected 'to thecontro1'boxI05, Figure 2. A lever I06 is adapted to-be actuated when the 'wheels on'the rightside of the machineare to: be

driven in a iorward orreverse-direction. :Similarly, a lever I 01 is adapted to be actuated when the 'wheelson the left side of the machine are to be driven in a'forward orreverse direction. The

motor I 'I for drivin the cutting mechanism is actuated by proper movement of a levriflBgwhile the cylinder 91 is actuated to thereby causerotation or pivotal movement of the entire cutting mechanism 59. The conveyor motor 52 is adapted i to be actuated by a manually operable lever H2, and finally, aalever II3=is-provided for actuating a mainswitch I I 8, Figure 7..

Referring to Figure '7 of the .drawin ga therexis shown a portion of the electrical circuit whereby movement ofthe levers causesactuation of the variousjgmotors. The circuitiincludes a pair-of lines II9aand I 20 whichare. adapted tobe connected: to.any suitable source. of electrical energy,

and the main switch I I8 is provided for at times breaking the circuit or making the circuit complete between the lines H9 and I20. A rheostat I23 is connected across the lines H9 and I20 by means of wires I2I and I22, the conveyor motor 52 being connected in series with the line I 2I.

The rheostat I23 is actuated by proper movement of the lever H2.

The pair of solenoids H6 and II! are connected in parallel with the lines H9 and I20 by a pair of wires I 24 and I25, and a switch I 26 is connected to the lines I24 and I25, the switch I 20 adapted to be actuated by the lever III, so as to selectively energize the solenoids H6 and 1, whereby the valves I03 and I04 can be set or adjusted to their desired positions. of lines I 21 and H8 connect the solenoids I I4 and H5 to the wires H9 and I20, and a switch I29 is arranged in this last-named circuit. The switch I29 is adapted to be actuated by the lever IIO, whereby the valves IOI and I02 can be set to the desired positions so as to raise or lower the cutting mechanism 59.

The motor 89 for actuating the hydraulic pump 90 is connected in parallel with the lines IIS and I20 by a pair of wires I30 and I3 I, and a rheostat I32 connects electrically the wires I30 and I3I together. The rheostat I32 is adapted to be actuated by the lever I09 so as to permit actuation of the hydraulic pump as desired. A pair of lines or wires I33 and I34 connect the cutting mechanism motor TI to the circuit, and a rheostat I35 is electrically connected to the wires I33, and I34. The rheostat I35 is actuated by proper manipulation of the lever I00, whereby the motor for driving the cutting mechanism can be turned A similar pair 5'.

6 on an'd off 1' orsthezspeed thereof varied by; proper positioning of the: movable: portion .of the rheostat I35. I

Similarly, the reversibleelectric motor 1 42 :for driving the pairi of wheels'34 and 35 is electrically connected: to the lines IISland I20, and theother reversible electric :motor "3611s electrically connectedito these linesalsopthe (motor 36 being used forrotating the wheels 32. and :33 in either a forward or reverse' direction. rA switch I35-is electrically connected "to the motor 42, and the switch I35cis adaptedto beiactuated by means of the lever I01, while the switch I.31.for-con.-

. trol linglthe direction of rotation of the motor '36 and the machinecaneither be. moved in a forward or. reverse ldirectioirby propermanipulationjoi the levers I00 andxI OLLsincethese levers control theswitches I 36 andr|3l-which determine. the direction of rotationofithemotors 36 and 42,. The cutting mechanism*59tincludes. the pair of :cutting members 1851and which rotate'at a very high speed'so as to shear or plane the coalina. highly eiiicient manner, and the 1 speed .of rotation' of these members can be :controlled by actuation :of the lever IE8 which controlstthe rheostat I35, the rheostat I35 :beinguelectrically connected to the motor ll. Theverticalpositionwofwthecutting mechanism 59 can be adjusted byaactuation of thelever I09, where.by the rheostat I32 will be energizedso thatthe pump motor 89. can be controlledto force hydraulic fluidiinto thecylinders, thevalves I02 .through I04 havingfboeh previously set by actuation of the levers IID -and I I I. 'Itis to benoted that the cutting mechanism 59 can also be swung about a horizontal axis by means of the lever Hi. The conveyor 46 arranged rearwardly of the machine receives the coal or other material that has been cut by the mechanism 59 and this conveyor 46 is driven by the motor 52, the motor 52 being controlled by the rheostat I23 which in turn is under control of the lever I 52. It is to be noted that all of these levers project at a safe distance from the machine so that the operator of the machine can work in the highest degree of safety. The motor ll actuates the chain I8, which in turn actuates the drive shaft II to thereby cause actuation of the cutting mechanism 59.

The machine of the present invention is adapted to move across a pillar of coal or can be used in mines of various sizes. The cutting mechanism 59 is adapted to be driven at an extremely high velocity, the rated rotation of the members 85 and 85' depending upon the material being cut. The machine can be used for driving tunnels or narrow entries into a mine, and can also be used for pillar extraction in mines. The machine of the present invention can also be used for mining salt as well as coal, and other materials may readily be mined or loaded with the machine of the present invention.

I claim:

1. In a mining machine, a frame, a hollow housing supported on said frame and including spaced parallel vertically disposed side and end walls, a horizontally disposed bottom wall and a horizontally disposed top wall, a pair of horizontally disposed axles projecting through each side wall of said housing, a first pair of wheels connected to a pair of said axles, a second pair of wheels connected to the other pair of axles, a first electric motor arranged-in said housing and supported on said bottom wall, chain-andsprocket means connecting said first motor to one pair of axles, a second motor arranged in said housing and supported on said bottom wall, chain-and-sprocket means connecting said second motor to the other. pair of axles, a conveyor arranged rearwardly of said housing and connected thereto, a third electric motor arranged in said housing and operatively connected to said conveyor, a scoop arranged along one side of said housing for directing material onto said conveyor, a cutting mechanism operatively connected to said housing, said cutting mechanism-comprising a body member adjustably connected to a side wall of said housing, a drive shaft supported by said body member, a fourth electric motor arrangedin said housing and operatively connected to said drive shaft, a straight shaft arranged at right angles with respect to said drive shaft, a driven shaft arranged in spaced parallel relation with respect to said drive shaft and supported by said body member, gear means connecting said straight shaft to said drive and driven shafts, apair of spaced cutting members mounted on said straight shaft and each provided with cutting teeth, and a circular cutter connected to the outer ends of said drive and driven shafts.

2. The apparatus as described in claim 1, and further including manually operable means arranged exteriorly of said housing for regulating said motors. g

3. In a mining and loadingmachine, a frame, a hollow housing supported on said frame and including side and end walls, a bottom wall and a top wall, a pair of axles projecting through each side wall of said housing, a first pair of wheels connected to a pair of said-axles, a second pair of wheels connected to the other pair of axles, a first electric: motor arranged in said housing and supported on said bottom wall, means connecting said first motor to one pair of axles, a second motor arranged in said housing and supported on said bottom wall, means comiecting said second motor to the other pair of axles, a conveyor arranged rearwardly of said housing and connected thereto, a thirdelectric motor arranged in said housing and operatively connected to said conveyor, a scoop arranged along one side of said housing for directing material onto said conveyor, a cutting mechanism operatively connected to said housing, said cutting mechanism comprising a body member adj ustably connected to a side wall of said housing, a drive shaft supported by said body member, a fourth electric motor arranged in said housing and operatively connected to said drive shaft, a straight shaft arranged at right angles with respect to said drive shaft, a driven shaft supported by said body member, meansconnecting said straight shaft to said drive and driven shafts, a pair-of spaced cutting members mounted on said straight shaft and each provided with cutting teeth, and a circular cutter connected to the outer ends of said drive and driven shafts.

LAWRENCE L'QWYLAM.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in 'the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,257,582 Conrad et al. Feb. 26,1918 1,473,281 Holmested ....D8C. 18, 1923 

